ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) – Special Advisor to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Iranian Foreign Minister Jawad Zarif on Wednesday agreed to play down the tensions.

Article continues after the advertisement

Sartaj and Zarif, while addressing a joint news conference after a brief meeting, stressed that Pakistan and Iran should improve the infrastructure at the border between both countries to avoid unwanted incidents.

They urged the Muslim countries to play their role for the sake of restoration of peace in the Middle East region.

Sartaj said “we want Muslim Ummah to be united at this time”.

He assured his Iranian counter-part that an in-depth inquiry shall be conducted into the killing of eight Iranian borders force personnel at the border with Pakistan by Pakistani forces.

Zarif asked Saudi-led coalition forces to immediately halt the ongoing aerial strikes to encourage the efforts of peace being made by other countries. “Both sides must settle down for a ceasefire,” he said.

He also dismissed the reports of Iran’s involvement in Yemen saying We are not bombing people in Yemen.

Earlier both officials discussed ways and means to resolve the crisis in Yemen peacefully in ministry of foreign affairs office in Islamabad.

Both sides exchanged their views on the poor situation in Yemen and ways to address the challenge through peaceful means.

Iranian Foreign Minister Muhammad Javad Zarif has arrived in Islamabad on a two-day official tour to discuss the crisis in Yemen with Pakistani authorities.

He was welcomed by top officials of Pakistani foreign office at the airport.

The foreign minister is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry and other high level officials.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had called for Iran to get involved in a debate on security in Yemen.

A joint session of Parliament is also discussing the situation of Yemen and is expected to conclude with a decision whether Pakistan should join a Saudi-led campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Turkey and Iran country heads also called for an end to the bloodshed in Yemen while addressing a joint news conference in Tehran.